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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

If You Could Have One Dress Pattern . . .

Readers, I'm looking for your help today. I've been asked to write a guest post for Sew, Mama, Sew! It's a great honor, of course. They mentioned particular interest in the way I match up patterns with dresses in my Daily Dress posts (which, yes, have been a bit scarce lately!). What I'm looking for is reader submissions of dresses that you'd like pattern suggestions for. Maybe it's something you've seen at Anthropologie, maybe it was something that Marilyn Monroe wore, who knows?! It just has to be a dress (or ensemble) that you want to make, that you need pattern suggestions for. A few ideas:

63 comments:

I have always been fascinated by Claire McCardell and found this dress picture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art site --http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/all/playsuit_claire_mccardell/objectview.aspx?page=1&sort=6&sortdir=asc&keyword=claire%20mccardell&fp=1&dd1=0&dd2=0&vw=1&collID=0&OID=80023937&vT=1&hi=0&ov=0

Ooooooh, Gertie, how about the floral cowlneck inspiration dress Carolyn posted on her blog this morning? http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YL8W9Tdm2qA/TgknxipPBxI/AAAAAAAAFTQ/8lBOm8VE3kw/s1600/Summer+work+wardrbe+tips+from+People+Style+Watch.Carolyn did a fantastic version in a black floral. I'd like to try the dress with the gathered skirt. Thanks for asking!

Gosh, there's so many! But for me, when I saw this dress: http://yfrog.com/h8j0cxbj I just fell in love. It's from Hobbs (UK) and is their Alice dress, but I think the way they'd styled it in this store was better than the one on the website. The construction is gorgeous, and on the website, I can see some tiny pleats in the skirt, which surprised me. http://www.hobbs.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1116&showall=true

Oh, I just love Zooey Deschanel's style, for me it's perfect mixture of vintage and modern. Lately I've been oogling this dress, wonder if I could recreate it?http://zooey-deschanel.us/gallery/displayimage.php?album=topn&cat=0&pid=7561#top_display_media

Great question, Gertie! Here is a drool-worthy creation by Tracy Reese that plays with stripes in a most delightful way:http://www.tracyreese.com/popup.aspx?src=images/product/large/707_1_.jpgWhere on earth would you start?

What a wonderful idea, asking for opinions for the readers. Since we all read your blog for its vintage appeal, I am not sure if this dress fits your vision, but I see a very vintage style on much of this collection.

OMG!! I just logged on to your blog to ask you the very same question! I often save images and cut outs of dresses I absolutely adore but as a newby to the dressmaking game have no idea how to re-create or how to find a similar pattern. Would love your advice. I love the dresses on modcloth (here are a couple but to be honest theres too many!

I've been wanting to make a shelf bust dress, like the ones on Bernie Dexter's site here: http://berniedexter.com/bernie-dexter-frenchie-halter-dress-in-lily-pad.htmlBut the vintage ones are hard to come by. It'd be great if there were a modern pattern that could be easily altered.

Also, my dream dress is Ava Gardner's intro dress in the Killers: http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTg3MDIxMzIzNF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjYyODI0NA@@._V1._SX399_SY500_.jpgWould love to be able to make a version!

I think this Michael Kors dress might be emulated without the leather. http://www.michaelkors.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod11030025&parentId=cat18007&masterId=cat102&index=15&cmCat=cat000000cat102cat18007It's a dress that is suitable for many size ranges.

I adore the Sugared dress from Anthropologie (the printed dress, fourth image in your post). Unfortunately, the fit across the bust is NOT ideal, and the seams are too scant to let out. Plus, I imagine the thick, tightly woven fabric (underlined!) would show the previous seams even after washing.

PLEASE, if you happen across a pattern similar, I would love to recreate it!

I've also been smitten with the Beda shirtdress by Maeve, http://www.papermichelle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/maeve-dress-from-anthropologie.jpg . I've only recently discovered it, and it's not available anymore. It would be fantastic to blend fantastic textures and fun trim.

This is so fun! I'm enthrolled by this dress http://www.colettepatterns.com/blog/fashion-history/mary-quant-chelsea-girl?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ColettePatterns+%28Colette+Patterns%29&utm_content=Google+Reader by Mary Quant. Simple but stunning. I'm sure half the challenge is matching bias cut plaid.

I am in love with the black evening dress Rosemary Clooney wears in "White Christmas" when she goes to New York and Bing goes to get her back to the show in Vermont...swoon!!! I have nowhere to wear such a dress, of course, but I love it to pieces and always have...

These:from etsy; http://www.etsy.com/listing/75181812/white-and-blue-pinstripe-linen-sailor?ref=v1_other_1 and this one from shabby apple; http://www.shabbyapple.com/p-384-madison-ave.aspx. The shaping on the first, with the stripe placement, is choice. The lovely standing collar and sleeves are lovely in the second.

I recently saw this dress: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=20702841&catId=CLOTHES-DRESSES&pushId=CLOTHES-DRESSES&popId=CLOTHES&navAction=push&navCount=42&color=080&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&isSubcategory=true&subCategoryId=CLOTHES-DRESS-STRAP&templateType=subCategory

which looks fairly straightforward until you use the "zoom" and see all the lovely little stitching details. Maybe it's not so much the pattern I need as instruction on how to add those fabulous touches!

What an excellent idea!!I have sooo many dresses I covet, it's difficult to only choose one (I actually keep a file on my computer of pictures of dresses I someday, given time, skill and money, I'd like to replicate). Although I love old movies, I feel that many of the dresses there would make me feel I am wearing a costume. I instead think modern dresses with a vintage touch fit my wardrobe and liftestyle best. Here are two:Erin Fetherston fall 2010, long black dress with sleeves(a bit hippie chic, love it!): http://www.fashionwindows.net/2010/02/erin-fetherston-fall-2010/

This sophisticated lace dress i also one of my favourites (Burberry Prorsum):http://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/2010/07/15/in-kate-bosworths-closet-burberry-prorsum-lace-dress/Even better in black:http://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/2010/02/23/2010-elle-style-awards-claire-danes-in-burberry/

Oh lord, I love dresses.... Did I say this was an excellent idea of yours?....

Wow, this post is perfect timing! I was just watching "Black Narcissus" on netflix last night and was floored by the amazingly couture, 1940's dress worn by Kathleen Byron in the final scenes as she's going crazy...

I couldn't find any good stills of it, but here is a video clip that contains most of the footage from the film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLBvSZZFhuE

(sorry for the music, and you can advance it to about 1:00 minute in to see the red dress in question).

I love this idea =) But in truth, following wonderful blogs like yours has already given me the push I needed to study the dresses I admired in shops and try to recreate them myself. (I also keep a folder on my computer with images of dresses I want to make!) My style is probably best represented by the second dress with the double spaghetti straps and the lovely collar detail. Anyway, I can't wait to see what you decide to make!

Excellent question! I loved the blue chiffon dress Rachel Berry wore on the season finale of Glee. I saw here it was a vintage dress; I'd love to find a pattern to recreate it! http://www.possessionista.com/2011/05/glee-fashion-new-york-season-finale.html

There can be only one answer to this qestion: the dress by Edith Head that Bette Davis wears for the party she throws in All About Eve. That is the only dress in the world. I have wanted it with every fiber of my being since I was fourteen years old.

Pretty much anything worn by Grace Kelly. She has such flawless style! I'm sure even a pair of her "hang-around-the-house" pyjamas are glamorous (if that's an activity she ever did)!!I know this is not very specific, but after going through many pictures this morning, I just couldn't pick one. I'm thinking of the outfits she wore in "To catch a thief", but already there, I couldn't settle on one in particular.

I'm with Tamina listening...a modern pattern of a shelf bust dress. The Elizabeth Taylor dress from your August 2, 2010 post is on my inspiration list. Did you know that Elizabeth was only 16 when this picture was taken?

Maggie Gyllenhall wears a dress in one of the Batman films that I've never forgotten. This is the only pic I could find of it and it's not very clear, but it appears to be bias cut and has some beautiful detailing around the bust/sleeve seam area. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tPZzR7EpIjg/TVLCK-NrrLI/AAAAAAAAAjg/DoBwKZIg77I/s1600/Maggie+Gyllenhaal+Dark+Knight.jpg

I'm torn between these two:http://www.etsy.com/listing/75295548/1950s-ruched-organza-strapless-black?ref=sr_gallery_24&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=50s+prom+dress&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_facet=vintage

I have been searching for ages for a sarong style strapless or one-shoulder vintage dress pattern and keep coming up empty. I even have fabric piling up for various tropical and formal versions! Please, PLEASE, suggest pattern pieces to make a dress like the "Shaheen Dream" (*swoon*). It doesn't have to be for the SMS guest post, just someday. No pressure or anything. ;) I am confident that what you do share will be fresh and inspired, as always!

Any 40s or 50s Balenciaga dress... They have became such a piece of art, only avalaible for collectors or museums, that it seems impossible to find them "flat", drawn on paper... Just a dream to be able to sew one of the "true couturier" outfits...

LK Bennett here in the UK do the most fabulous dresses (and shoes) My favourite is the Davina http://www.lkbennett.com/clothing/dresses/DRDAVINA2619WOOL2 which makes anyone look glamorous and gives you the most amazing set of curves.

Elena, That built by Wendy dress could maybe be done with a modification (for the two alternating fabrics) with this dress from Vogue, minus the belt:

http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8645-products-11097.php?page_id=856

Look at the line drawing... I think it's pretty close!

In fact I was thinking... this sort of thing (matching patterns with famous or vintage or expensive dresses) is a perfect application for "croudsourcing", since we've all probably looked at a lot of patterns!

As it happens, I spotted the "bandana dress" by Lily Allen & sister Sarah Owen in a magazine here and thought "Now THAT is a dress I would love to have the pattern of!" I also love the symmetrical line-up of the print.So... If you'd feel so inclined? Cherry bow on top?

And wow - writing for Sew Mama Sew - not bad! I am pretty confident that I will like whatever you come up with there :-)

You have opened Pandora's box Gertie! I wish I had saved more of the images I love and would attempt to sew. Here are two recents; this Louis Vuitton shirtdress: http://www.instyle.com/instyle/celebrities/lotdpopup/0,,,00.html

and by Jason Wu http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/2012RST-JASONWU?event=show2282&designer=design_house1157&trend=&iphoto=13#slide=13

Hi Gertie, it might sound a bit random, but there's a great Franch film called '8 Women' with gorgeous costumes with a '50's feel, especially the ensembles worn by Catherine Deneauve, Isabelle Huppert, and Fanny Ardent - all of which I crave patterns for. BTW, it's a fab film, even aside from the dresses!!

One pattern I'd love to have is a dress from the TV film Sleeping murder...http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/mystery/sleepingmurder/homeimages/sleepingmurder_left01.jpghttp://www.dominikscherrer.com/pictures/marple_sleeping_murder.jpghttp://www.coverdude.com/covers/marple-sleeping-murder-2005-r4-front-cover-64826.jpgNot many good pictures online... It's a wrap-style dress with a pleated shawl collar and full skirt. Probably taffetta.Not that I have the skill to construct such a dress just yet - but it's one of my all time favourites, so one day I'd love to!(The film isn't very good otherwise...)

I love this dress http://www.modcloth.com/Womens/Dresses/-Still-Life-Photographer-Dress with its fun use of stripes in different directions. I was too late to buy one on ModCloth, which I'm sorrier and sorrier about the more I think about the length, the kimono-style sleeves, the cinched waist...

Hi Gertie! I recently found a dress on modcloth.com that I absolutely love. I'd love to have a pattern that was similar! Here's the link for the dress. http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/modern-fairytale-dress